Scituate Animal Shelter steps up big for Weymouth

Ed Baker ebaker@wickedlocal.com @EdBakerWeymouth

Monday

Oct 8, 2018 at 2:44 PMOct 8, 2018 at 8:34 PM

There is no local animal shelter in Weymouth to care for an abandoned dog or cat, but the Scituate Animal Shelter is doing what it can to house these creatures, according to executive director Mary Ann Regan.

"Weymouth is one of the towns we get the most animals from," she said. "It is a big town with a lot of people and there are no facilities. There are also not many pet services there to provide low cost care."

Weymouth operated an animal shelter years ago on Wharf Street near the former incinerator site and Osprey Overlook Park.

The Massachusetts Humane Society took over the facility, but the agency closed the site a few years ago.

The town has an informal agreement with the Scituate Animal Shelter to care for homeless dogs and cats found by animal control officer Michael Parker.

"We work closely with him on a weekly basis," Regan said. "We are in touch with him several times a week. Weymouth is lucky to have such a great animal control officer who is kind and compassionate."

She said the shelter recently received a $10,000 grant from the Shirley S. Windsor Charitable Trust to specifically help cover expenses associated with providing care to dogs or cats taken in from Weymouth.

The grant money will help cover the expense to spay and neuter the animals to curb behavioral problems, in addition to reducing pet homelessness, according to Regan.

She said the grant will also help financially strapped Weymouth households cover the cost of spaying or neutering a pet.

"You hear of people who leave an animal behind when moving because they can’t afford a medical procedure and we want to break down those barriers," Regan said. "We don’t want any wall to be there to prevent people from bringing their animal to us."

She said the grant will also be used by Scituate Animal Shelter staff to spay and neuter feral cat colonies found in Weymouth.

The process involves capturing a feral cat with a humane trap and taking it to the Scituate shelter, where it is neutered or spayed. The feline is then returned to its colony.

She said the Scituate shelter provides care for animals from "all over the place."

"We have more of a focus on the South Shore," she said. "We are a non-profit and we rely on donations, adoption fees and service fees. We mostly rely on donations."

Regan said the shelter has 150 volunteers and three full-time staff members.

"We care for about 1,000 animals a year," she said.

Regan said the volunteers help with feeding and cleaning the animals.

"We have two animal care shifts," she said. "The volunteers come in and walk the dogs. We are open for service in the middle of the day for people who come in and are looking to adopt a pet. We are fortunate to have so many volunteers."

Regan said the shelter also cares for guinea pigs, rabbits, snakes and farm pigs.

"We have taken in boa constrictors and pythons," she said.

The shelter is open Sunday, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30p.m., and on Tuesday through Thursday from 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The shelter is closed Monday and on all federal holidays.

She said animals brought to the shelter are examined for medical needs by a veterinarian.

"The biggest reason we get animals is because their owner is moving or there are behavior issues with the animal," she said. "The number one way we try to help the animals is through adoption. If our shelter is full, we do work with other shelters and they will clear up space. We work collaboratively with other shelters quite often. Adoption is the biggest reason why animals leave our facility."